Multi-layer mattress with an air filtration foundation

ABSTRACT

A mattress including a plurality of layers, each layer extending in a substantially parallel, horizontal direction and being positioned in vertical relation to other layers and each layer further having a perforated or open-cell structure. At least one layer has a gel dispersed within the perforated or open-cell structure of the layer.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/090,320 filed on Apr. 20, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/640,043 filed on Dec. 17, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,950,084, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/341,934 filed on Dec. 22, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,650,658, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/759,999 filed Jun. 8, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,467,435, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/133,582 filed on May 20, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,240,386, which claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/572,693 filed on May 20, 2004. The disclosures set forth in the referenced applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to mattresses and, more particularly, to a multi-layer mattress, which is comprised of various foam materials.

A common problem associated with mattresses is that they are not customized to support the bodies of their users. In fact, most mattresses are comprised of materials which have the same hardness or firmness throughout the mattress. To customize mattresses with respect to multiple users, customized mattresses have been provided, which have two zones of hardness or firmness. Although these mattresses are customized to meet user preferences with respect to hardness or firmness for each of the users, these mattresses are not customized to meet user preferences with respect to the different areas of the body for each of the respective users.

To provide varying firmnesses for mattress constructions, many manufacturers use natural and synthetic fibers and a variety of foams, such as latex, visco-elastic and polyurethane. A common problem with these materials, however, is that they prevent air circulation between the mattress layers. This in turn leads to body heat retention and an uncomfortable sleep for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To overcome the disadvantages noted above, the present invention is directed to a breathable mattress including at least one or a plurality of layers, where one of the mattress layers may be further comprised of a plurality of sections and the sections are comprised of different types of materials, which have varying firmnesses and feel and which may also be comprised of material that is perforated or of an open-cell structure to allow for air circulation. One of the layers may include a gel infused within or dispersed through one or more portions of one or more layers.

A better understanding of the objects, advantages, features, properties and relationships of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which set forth an illustrative embodiment and which are indicative of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to a preferred embodiment shown in the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a mattress, which is partially sectioned to show a plurality of foam layers;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the foam layers that form the mattress shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an exploded, perspective view of the foam layers shown in FIG. 2, without the outer mattress cover;

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the contour layer shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an exemplary air filtration foundation; and

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a mattress with an alternative embodiment of an air filtration foundation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to the figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, there is illustrated a mattress 20, which is comprised of multiple foam layers. More particularly, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mattress 20 is comprised of a comfort layer 22, a contour layer 24, an air foam layer 26, and a foam base layer 28. Although the mattress shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 shows the mattress with comfort layer 22 forming the top layer of mattress 20, contour layer 24 positioned underneath comfort layer 22, air foam layer 26 positioned underneath contour layer 24 and foam base layer 28 forming the bottom layer of mattress 20, it should be understood by those with skill in the art that the order of these layers 22, 24, 26, 28 may be changed.

The comfort layer 22 is preferably positioned on the top of the mattress 20 and is comprised of material that is soft and breathable. For example, materials, including, but not limited to, convoluted latex, regular latex, viscoelastic polyurethane, regular polyurethane or convoluted polyurethane may be used. While it is preferred that the comfort layer 22 be comprised of material having an open-cell structure or being perforated for use in connection with the mattress 20, it should be appreciated that other materials may also be used, as long as they possess similar characteristics as the materials mentioned above. If the comfort layer 22 has an open-cell structure or perforations, the comfort layer 22 may also have gel infused within or dispersed through the open-cell structure or perforations. Although the comfort layer 22 may be of varying thicknesses, the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a comfort layer 22 having a thickness between ½ and 4 inches.

As will be discussed in more detail below, the contour layer 24 will include a plurality of zones, where each of the zones may vary in firmness and feel. For example, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4 depicts a seven-zoned layer that utilizes a combination of viscoelastic foam, which is perforated, and conventional polyurethane foam, which may or may not be perforated. Because the viscoelastic foam is perforated and the conventional polyurethane foam is of an open-cell structure, each of these materials will allow air to circulate through the contour layer 24. While this embodiment includes seven zones, it should be appreciated that the number of zones and the material forming each of these zones may be changed to achieve different firmnesses and feel and air circulation qualities; for example, it is also envisioned that a mattress having a contour layer with five zones may also be manufactured. If perforated, one or more of the zones of the contour layer 24 may have a gel infused therein or dispersed through portions of one or more of the zones. Although the contour layer 24 may be of varying thicknesses, the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a contour layer 24 having a thickness between 1 and 4 inches.

The air foam layer 26 may be comprised of reticulated foam, which has an open-cell structure and allows air to circulate through the air foam layer 26. Reticulated foam is strong, easily fabricated and resistant to chemicals. In addition, reticulated foam typically has pore sizes that range from 4 to 100 pores per inch. This enables reticulated foam to be used in a wide array of applications and also helps to control the permeability associated with those applications. As with the comfort and contour layers 22, 24, the air foam layer 26 may have a gel infused within or dispersed within some of the pores of the layer 26.

While reticulated foam has been commonly used in connection with a variety of products, it has not been used in connection with mattresses. It should be understood by those with skill in the art that other materials having similar characteristics may also be used to form the air foam layer 26. Although the air foam layer 26 may be of a varying thicknesses, the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an air foam layer 26 having a thickness between 2 and 4 inches.

The foam base layer 28 is normally positioned on the bottom of the mattress 20 and comprised of material that is firmer and more supportive, such as polyurethane. The foam base layer 28 may also be comprised of a material having an open-cell structure for allowing air to circulate through the foam base layer 28 and the open-cell structure may be infused with a gel or have a gel dispersed through all or a portion of the structure, as discussed above in relation to the layers 22, 24, and 26.

If a gel is utilized in any of the layers 22, 24, 26, 28, one or more protective layers may be disposed between layers 22, 24, 26, and/or 28 or between one or more of the layers 22, 28 and a ticking layer, backing layer, mattress, box spring, blanket, or other bedding material. The protective layer(s) prevents gel disposed within the open-celled structure of any of the foam layers 22, 24, 26, 28 from seeping or being pushed out of the layers(s). In particular, when pressure is exerted by a user on the layers 22, 24, 26, 28, any gel disposed within the layers, by its nature, will move around within the respective layer (or out of the layer). In one embodiment, it is desirous to have gel move around only within individual layers. For example, if the layers 22, 24 contain gel, the gel within layer 22 remains within the layer 22 and the gel within the layer 24 remains within the layer 24. In other embodiments, it is desirous to allow gel to move throughout any of the layers containing gel (e.g., in the above example, gel could move between the layers 22, 24). In still other embodiments, combinations of the above embodiments are possible. Regardless, if any of the layers 22, 24, 26, 28 contain gel, one or more protective layers may be utilized to prevent movement of gel between one or more layers or outside of the mattress.

If any of the layers 22, 24, 26, and/or 28 have an open celled structure or include perforations and/or contain gel and one or more protective layer(s) are utilized, the protective layer(s) may also be perforated. Any perforations in the protective layer(s) would be small enough to prevent movement of gel through the perforations or would contain barriers to movement of the gel through the perforations, but would allow movement of air through the perforations.

Protective layers, if present, may be formed of any material that will prevent the flow of gel through the material, without compromising the comfort of the overall mattress. The protective layer(s) may be comprised of one or more materials, including, but not limited to, relatively non-porous plastic materials, rubber, other non-porous materials, and the like, and combinations thereof.

If any of the layers 22, 24, 26, and/or 28 include perforations, the sizes of the perforations may be varied between the layers 22, 24, 26, and/or 28 and/or the sizes of the perforations across one or more particular layers 22, 24, 26, and/or 28 may be varied to achieve different densities and firmnesses between the layers or across the layers, respectively. If the perforations are suitably small, the firmness of the layer in which perforations are disposed may be maintained.

It should be understood by those with skill in the art that other materials or manufacturing techniques, such as perforation, may also be employed to form the foam base layer 28 in order to achieve different firmnesses and feel and air circulation qualities. Although the foam base layer 28 may be of varying thicknesses, the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a foam base layer 28 having a thickness between 2 and 6 inches.

For creating the mattress 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the foam layers 22, 24, 26, 28 extend in a substantially parallel, horizontal direction and are stacked in vertical relation to one another. As is known in the art, each of the foam layers 22, 24, 26, 28 are substantially aligned and interface with each other on their horizontal planes. Each of the foam layers 22, 24, 26 and 28 may be attached by adhesives, such as Simalfa glue.

For exemplary purposes only, the mattress layer 22 should be viewed as comprising a first side 21 a and a second side 21 b, where the first side 21 a and second side 21 b form substantially planar surfaces. More specifically, the first side 21 a and second side 21 b for the mattress also includes a top portion 20 a, a bottom portion 20 b, a left side 20 c and a right side 20 d. In addition, the top portion 20 a will correspond to what is commonly referred to as the head of the mattress 20 and the bottom portion 20 b will correspond to what is commonly referred to as the foot of the mattress 20. It should be appreciated that each of the foam layers 22, 24, 26, 28 also include a first side, a second side, a top portion, a bottom portion, a left side and a right side, with reference numerals associated with each of those portions or sides that correspond to the reference numerals used to describe the same portions or sides on mattress 20.

To create a breathable mattress 20 that has a plurality of zones having varying firmnesses, which correspond to different parts of a user's body, the contour layer 24 includes a plurality of sections 30 that extend from the left side 24 c of the contour layer 24 to the right side 24 d of the contour layer 24. Also, it should be appreciated that sections 30 extend in a substantially perpendicular direction as compared to the space extending between the top portion 20 a and the bottom portion 20 b. Moreover, each of these sections 30 may be comprised of different foam types, such as latex, viscoelastic, polyurethane and other similar materials, which may also be perforated if necessary. These sections 30 may be attached to each other by adhesives, such as Simalfa glue, or by using other techniques that are well-known in the industry. The benefits of using different foam types is that the contour layer 24 and the mattress 20 may include a plurality of zones associated with each of these section 30, where each of these zones possess a different firmness and feel. In addition, the benefits of using materials that are either perforated or of an open-cell structure is that air will be allowed to circulate throughout the entire mattress 20, thereby allowing the mattress to provide a “cooler” surface and a more comfortable sleep for its users, which may also reduce tossing and turning.

As mentioned above, it is preferred that each of the foam layers 22, 24, 26, 28 and sections 30 be comprised of materials that are perforated or of an open-cell structure, and that provide the desired firmness and feel. For example, viscoelastic is a unique open cell foam that continuously molds to the shape of an object interfacing with the viscoelastic material based on the temperature of the viscoelastic material. Therefore, viscoelastic foam gets softer as its ambient temperature rises. This is important because mattress users are known to have pressure points associated with different portions of their body. In addition, these pressure points will generate heat. Thus, the viscoelastic foam will become softer and mold itself around the pressure points to reduce the amount of force displaced against those points.

Additionally, latex foam, also known as latex foam rubber, is known in the industry and consists of a network of open, or inner-connecting, cells, which are uniform in size and character. It is advantageous to use latex foam in connection with mattresses because latex foam is capable of molding to the shape of an object that interfaces with the latex foam, while also providing support to the object. Also, because of its open and inner-connecting cell structure, latex foam allows for air circulation, which is consistent with the functional specifications required by the present invention. Since latex foam is more breathable than viscoelastic foam, it retains less heat, which may also reduce the surface temperature of the mattress. Therefore, latex foam may be preferable in some instances.

As noted above, one or more of the foam layers 22, 24, 26, 28 (or zones of the layer 24) may be infused with a gel. Examples of gels include a urethane or ethylene-based gel, but other gels are contemplated. In addition, if multiple layers are infused with gel, the same gel need not be utilized. One or more gels may be utilized and may be formed in any shape, for example, pellets, shavings, beads, bladders, layers, or any other shape or form, whether continuous or discontinuous. If any of the foam layers 22, 24, 26, 28 are infused with gel, the open-cell or perforated structure of the gel-infused layers are preferably still capable of having air circulated therethrough and may include perforations to allow for air circulation. If the gel is provided in gelatinous form, rather than as shavings, pellets, etc., the gel may be provided in a bladder or other protective structure having perforations or channels therethrough to allow for air circulation.

As mentioned above, the contour layer 24 includes a plurality of zones, for each of the zones posses a different firmness and feel. Moreover, each of these zones will correlate to one of the sections 30 that form the contour layer 24. FIG. 4 shows a top view of the contour layer 24, including seven sections 30, which may each be comprised of different materials. For example, one embodiment of the present invention includes a contour layer 24 that is comprised of seven sections 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d, 30 e, 30 f, 30 g. Moreover, each of the sections are comprised of polyurethane foam or viscoelastic foam and each of those sections 30 may posses the following technical specifications. It should be understood that the density and firmness ranges provided below are only preferred and that materials with a density or firmness outside of the defined ranges may be used without departing from the teachings included herein. It should also be appreciated that the contour layer 24 may be provided with only one section 30 of material, e.g., only one firmness throughout the contour layer 24, provided that the material used therein is of an open-cell structure or perforated thereby allowing airflow throughout the contour layer 24.

Section 30 a, which may also be referred to as the head portion, may be comprised of polyurethane foam, which may be solid or perforated, having a minimum density of 1.5 lbs./cu. ft. and a firmness rating of between 20-45 Initial Firmness Deflection (“IFD”).

Section 30 b, which may also be referred to as the shoulder portion, may be comprised of viscoelastic foam having a density of between 3-5 lbs./cu. ft. and a firmness rating of between 10-20 IFD.

Section 30 c, which may also be referred to as the lumbar section, may be comprised of solid polyurethane foam having a minimum density of 1.5 lbs./cu. ft. and a firmness rating of between 20-45 IFD.

Section 30 d, which may also be referred to as the hip portion, may be comprised of perforated viscoelastic foam having a density of between 3-5 lbs./cu. ft. and a firmness rating of between 10-20 IFD.

Section 30 e, which may also be referred to as the lower lumbar portion, may be comprised of solid polyurethane foam having a minimum density of 1.5 lbs./cu. ft. and a firmness of between 20-45 IFD.

Section 30 f, which may also be referred to as the leg portion, may be comprised of perforated viscoelastic foam having a density of 3-5 lbs./cu. ft. and a firmness rating of between 10-20 IFD; and

Section 30 g, which may also be referred to as the foot portion, may be comprised of polyurethane foam, which may be solid or perforated, having a minimum density of 1.5 lbs./cu. ft. and a firmness rating of between 20-45 IFD.

To increase the air flow/circulation of the mattress 20, a fan or fan assembly 60, or similar device may also be provided. The fan may be positioned underneath the mattress 20 or on any of the sides that are formed by the mattress. Because of the preference that the mattress layers 22, 24, 26, 28 be comprised of material that is perforated or of an open-cell structure, the mattress 20 will facilitate the flow/circulation of air and may allow air to pass through the entire mattress. It should also be appreciated by those with skill in the art that the fan may supply air of varying temperatures depending on the effect the manufacturer is aiming to achieve and that more than one fan may be used.

To create a controllable air flow, an air filtration foundation 50 may also be included. As shown in FIG. 5, the air filtration foundation 50 may be positioned underneath the mattress 20. Therefore, the air filtration foundation 50 may also serve as the support structure for the mattress 20. The air filtration foundation 50 may be further comprised of a fan assembly 60 and a filter assembly 70. The fan assembly 60 will provide air, which may be at a selected temperature, and the air will flow primarily through the mattress 20. It should be appreciated that the fan assembly 60 may be comprised of standard devices capable of creating an air supply, such as a fan or blower, and that these devices are preferably devices, which produce minimal noise and vibrations. For controlling the level of air flow being provided by the air filtration foundation 50, a control unit 52 may be provided. The control unit 52 may be attached to the air filtration foundation 50 or be mounted remotely. In addition, the control unit 52 may be in electrical communication with the air filtration foundation 50 or communicate with the air filtration foundation 50 via infra-red or other wireless mediums. The control unit 52 may provide the user with various output settings ranging from high to low fan speeds. If a heating and cooling function is desired, the control unit 52 may also include various temperature settings for users to employ.

For purifying or filtering the air and facilitating the controlled air flow, the air filtration foundation 50 may include a combined fan assembly and filter assembly 70, which acts as an intake for the air. To act as an intake for the air, the filter assembly 70 may also include a fan or similar means for drawing air into the filter assembly 70. For removing harmful materials, such as fibers, dust, dust mites, mold spores, tobacco smoke or other allergens, the filter assembly 70 may also include a filter (not shown) for trapping these materials. It should be understood by those with skill in the art that many different filters may be utilized to achieve this function. For example, the filter may be a HEPA, HEGA, carbon, carbon-zeolite mix, ionic, ozone, ultra-violet or electronic filter. While each of these types of filters operates in a different manner, they all act to remove some degree of harmful materials from the air. It should be appreciated that other filters not mentioned above, or not yet developed may also be utilized in connection with the filter assembly described above. It should also be appreciated that although the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a fan assembly 60 and filter assembly 70 that exist as a single, integrated device, the fan assembly 60 and filter assembly 70 may also be provided on opposite sides of mattress 20. It is also possible that the fan assembly 60 and filter assembly 70 may be positioned underneath (on the underside of) the air filtration foundation 50 and blow or draw air toward or away from the user.

As shown in FIG. 5, one embodiment of the present invention may include mounting a combination fan assembly 60 and filter assembly 70 within the air filtration foundation 50. It is also possible that the fan assembly 60 and the filter assembly 70 may be mounted to the sides of the mattress 20, underneath the air filtration foundation or as a free-standing structure located separate from the mattress 20. An additional embodiment of the present invention may also be provided which includes only one of either the fan assembly 60 or filter assembly 70 for use in connection with the air filtration foundation 50, as opposed to the combined unit.

As shown in FIG. 5, it is preferred that air be drawn into the mattress 20 by providing one or more combination fan assemblies 60/filter assemblies 70. It is also preferred that each of the combination fan assembly 60/filter assembly 70 be positioned within the air filtration foundation 50 and that the air be drawn in a direction that is substantially vertical and substantially transverse to the mattress 20. However, it is also possible to force air through the mattress 20 in different directions and to position the fan assembly 60 and filter assembly 70 in different locations with respect to the mattress 20.

As shown in FIG. 6, for forcing air through the mattress 20, a supply vent 54 may connect the fan assembly 60 to the mattress 20. In addition, to filter air that is forced through the mattress 20, a return vent 56 may be used to connect the filter assembly 70 and the mattress 20. Therefore, air would be supplied by the supply vent 54 and drawn into the filter through the return vent 56. While each of the supply and return vents 54, 56 are preferably positioned near the top portion and bottom portion of the mattress 20, the vents 54, 56 may be attached to any side of the mattress 20 or underneath the mattress 20, in order to create the desired air flow, and the vents 54, 56 may also be of varying sizes and configurations. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the vents 54, 56 may be designed to cover the entire side on which they are mounted. Alternatively, the vents 54, 56 may be smaller in size. The vents 54, 56 may also assume varying shapes (not shown), i.e., square, rectangular, circular or oval, and numbers, i.e., more than one supply or return vents may be provided.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. For example, different materials possessing similar characteristics may be used and the positioning of each of the layers with respect to one another may be changed. Accordingly, the particular arrangement disclosed is meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A mattress, comprising: a plurality of layers, each layer extending in a substantially parallel, horizontal direction and being positioned in vertical relation to other layers and each layer further having a perforated or open-cell structure; and at least one layer having a gel dispersed within the perforated or open-cell structure of the at least one layer.
 2. The mattress according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of layers is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of convoluted latex, regular latex, viscoelastic polyurethane, regular polyurethane, or convoluted polyurethane.
 3. The mattress according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of layers include a comfort layer, a contour layer, an air foam layer and a foam base layer.
 4. The mattress according to claim 1, wherein the gel is a urethane or ethylene-based gel.
 5. The mattress according to claim 1, further including at least one protective layer disposed adjacent the at least one layer having a gel, wherein the protective layer prevents movement of the gel out of the at least one layer having gel.
 6. The mattress according to claim 1, wherein the gel is infused within the perforated or open-cell structure of the at least one layer.
 7. A mattress, comprising: a plurality of layers, each layer extending in a substantially parallel, horizontal direction and being positioned in vertical relation to other layers and each layer further having a perforated or open-cell structure; at least one layer having a gel dispersed within the perforated or open-cell structure of the layer; and an air filtration foundation providing air to the mattress, the air filtration foundation including a fan assembly that displaces air through each of the plurality of layers.
 8. The mattress according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of layers is comprised of material selected from the group consisting of convoluted latex, regular latex, viscoelastic polyurethane, regular polyurethane or convoluted polyurethane.
 9. The mattress according to claim 7, wherein the air displaced by the fan assembly is heated.
 10. The mattress according to claim 7, wherein the air displaced by the fan assembly is cooled.
 11. The mattress according to claim 7, wherein the gel is a urethane or ethylene-based gel.
 12. The mattress according to claim 7, wherein the gel is infused within the perforated or open-cell structure of the at least one layer.
 13. The mattress according to claim 7, further including at least one protective layer disposed adjacent the at least one layer having a gel, wherein the at least one protective layer prevents movement of the gel out of the at least one layer having gel.
 14. A mattress, comprising: at least one support layer for a user and having a perforated or open-cell structure having a gel dispersed within the at least one layer; and an air filtration foundation providing air to the mattress.
 15. The mattress of claim 14, further including at least one protective layer disposed adjacent the at least one support layer, wherein the at least one protective layer prevents movement of the gel out of the at least one support layer.
 16. The mattress according to claim 14, wherein the at least one support layer is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of convoluted latex, regular latex, viscoelastic polyurethane, regular polyurethane or convoluted polyurethane.
 17. The mattress according to claim 14, wherein the mattress includes a plurality of layers including a comfort layer, a contour layer, an air foam layer and a foam base layer.
 18. The mattress of claim 14, wherein the fan assembly supplies air of varying temperatures to the mattress.
 19. The mattress according to claim 14, wherein the gel is a urethane or ethylene-based gel.
 20. The mattress according to claim 14, wherein the gel is infused within the perforated or open-cell structure of the at least one layer. 